Meet Dr. Teresa Balser, CALS Dean

The CALS Ambassadors want to help you get to know the leaders of our college a little better. We developed questions to ask each of our three deans. Following are Dean Teri Balser's questions and answers. To learn more about Dr. Balser's professional duties in CALS, visit www.cals.ufl.edu/faculty_staff/balser.shtml.

Where is your favorite spot on campus?
That's a tough one. I seem to spend so much time in my office. I guess if I had to pick a non-work spot I'd say the Baughman Center. I love the lake and the center. So peaceful. And sometimes even a gator!

Do you have any pets?
I have a cat, Simon (aka the Bug), that I adopted from Gainesville Pet Rescue this past summer. He's almost 10 months old now and is a very sweet boy. He makes me laugh. I also seem to have adopted two silky terriers. They belong to my friend Veronica, but I watch them most of the time. They are smaller than I would normally choose for a dog, but they try hard to be big dogs!

Do you have a hidden skill/talent/hobby that students might not know about?
I have played and performed music since I was 10 years old. I started college as a music major, but switched to science (ecology and geology). Until I came here, I played and performed for weddings and with jazz and swing bands in the Madison area. I play saxophone, flute and clarinet as well as early music (renaissance and baroque) on recorder.

What Olympic sport would you like to try?
I love horses and have ridden since I was small. I would love to ride dressage or hunter jumper/cross country in the Olympics.

What is your favorite smell?
Jasmine or orange blossoms. I also love cinnamon or vanilla candles.

What is your favorite movie?
Princess Bride

What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
Raw sea snail, in Japan. I lived in Japan for a little bit and ate all kinds of weird food. But the raw chicken and the raw sea snail I was served in northern Japan was probably the strangest.

What is your one guilty pleasure?
Probably reading science fiction/fantasy -- or role playing video games. But honestly, I don't know that I feel all that guilty. Games and sci fi are the stuff of creativity, and that's what keeps us ALIVE. If I only ever worked and never used my imagination I'd be a pretty boring person ...

Do you know any other languages?
I speak a smattering of several. I know French best, but haven't really ever had a chance to use it. I learned a bit of German when I worked and lived in Switzerland and I learned some Japanese when I lived in Japan. I am trying to learn Spanish now -- it seems like the most useful, overall.

What do you see as the most significant or useful quality in a leader?
Self reflection. A leader must always know them self best of all. That is hard. But so critical. They must know what pushes their buttons, what are their best strengths, and where they need others to help out.

Dean Balser and Flat Albert in Haiti

What is the strangest thing a student has ever asked you?
I always ask students to ask questions ... and one of the oddest ones was when a student in honors biology asked me if I thought zombies could be real. I actually had an answer. I think that you could hypothesize that zombies are made from cell-cell communication by bacteria that have taken over the former bodies' cells. Bacteria and single celled organisms are capable of coordinated action, so why not create a zombie?

What is your favorite app?
Besides Mail? Well, I seem to use Google a lot, and Solitaire City. Sorry. I am boring that way. But when I can I play different tower or role playing games. I just downloaded Wraitheborne. Seems pretty good so far. I like hack and slash dungeon crawlers!

Dean Balser and a new friend in Haiti

Dean Balser at TailGATOR 2011

Meet Dr. R. Elaine Turner, CALS Sr. Associate Dean

The CALS Ambassadors want to help you get to know the leaders of our college a little better. We developed questions to ask each of our three deans. Following are Sr. Associate Dean Elaine Turner's questions and answers. To learn more about Dr. Turner's professional duties in CALS, visit www.cals.ufl.edu/faculty_staff/turner.shtml. 

Where did you grow up?
Wooster, Ohio, which is the location of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station) affiliated with The Ohio State University.

What is your favorite hobby?
Handbell ringing

If you could have any super power, which one would you choose?
The ability to stop time for everyone but me, so I could get caught up on work before anyone could give me more to do.

What is your favorite place to eat in Gainesville?
Mildred's Big City Cafe

If you could live in any home on a television series, which one would it be?
"Robin's Nest," which was Robin Masters' beachfront mansion in Hawaii on Magnum P.I.

If you could have dinner with any famous person, who would it be and why?
I've had a hard time with this question -- my favorite diner companion is my husband, Allen. As far as contemporary public figures, I think I would enjoy dining with Michelle Obama -- a well-educated professional woman who seems to have effectively balanced career, family and the pressures of public life.

Turner Family: Mitchell, Elaine, Allen & Ted

What is at the top of your bucket list?
Retire from UF and successfully audition to be a member of the Raleigh Ringers.

What one piece of advice would you give to a new student?
"Keep your options open" -- it was the advice I have always gotten from my father; and what it means to me is to be open to new ideas and experiences whether those are a unique class, a different major or minor, a student organization, study abroad, etc.

If you had to pick an area to study other than what your degrees are in, what would it be?
If I were starting over, I might choose Food Science instead of Dietetics/Nutrition -- the chemistry and flavor of food is endlessly fascinating to me. Also, I always thought it would be interesting to attend law school and medical school -- just to learn, with no pressure of exams or grades or expectation of practice in the field.

What was the most memorable thing you did in college?
Spending 10 months as an exchange student at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.

What activities/sports did you participate in during high school?
My primary activities were in music: marching band, symphonic band, orchestra, jazz band.

What is your pet peeve?
I can only have one? Then I'll go with when people, especially those who should know better, don't get the name of the college right. Although we were the College of Agriculture in 1906, we have been the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences since 1999 -- I was at the faculty meeting when we voted to change the name. And, it has been an uphill battle ever since for folks to get it right -- Agricultural and Life Sciences. And yes, I'm ok with using "Ag" instead of "Agricultural" so long as you say "Ag and Life Sciences."

Meet Dr. Al Wysocki, CALS Associate Dean

The CALS Ambassadors want to help you get to know the leaders of our college a little better. We developed questions to ask each of our three deans. Following are Associate Dean Al Wysocki's questions and answers. To learn more about Dr. Wysocki's professional duties in CALS, visit www.cals.ufl.edu/faculty_staff/wysocki.shtml. 

What was your favorite childhood toy?
A football. Any football.

If you could be a large animal, which species would you be and why?
Mountain Lion. I think they are cool and they usually occupy higher elevations. They are the predator. Good to be closer to the top of the food chain.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Easy question. Spend time with my wife and cycle.

What is your favorite movie?
I have lots of favorites. The movie I have seen the most in theaters in Inception. Very cool movie ...

Where is your favorite place to vacation?
Spudhaven -- The name of the house my parents own on a lake in Northern Wisconsin

What do you know now that you wish you knew in college?
I have been very happy with my choices as a student. Given the speed of change today, having even better skills relating to website design and social media would be helpful.

Who do you admire as a leader?
Joe Di Pietro, President of the University of Tennessee system

If you could have a different career, other than what you're doing now, what would it be?
Back home in the family potato business -- no question about that.

Do you cook? If so, what is your best dish?
When I cook, I like to grill. I smoke a mean turkey.

What one piece of advice would you give a student considering graduate school? 
Make sure you know why you want to do this. A current slow economy is not a good reason to just get a graduate degree.

Who is the best teacher you have ever had? What qualities made him/her great?
My friend and mentor, Dr. H. Christopher Peterson from Michigan State University. He always looked for "teachable moments" in the classroom. We have spent many hours talking about teaching.

Dr. Al Wysocki with his wife Joan

Dec. 9-15, 2012

Hi everyone! My name is Libby Weber, and I am a senior at the University of Florida majoring in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a specialization in Nutritional Sciences. Today I just took my last two final exams, which means I am officially done with my last fall semester of college! I cannot believe I only have one semester left. However, the upcoming end to my college experience is very bittersweet. Throughout my (almost) four years at UF, I have changed and evolved so much as a person. School, extracurricular activities, work, friends, relationships – they all made me who I am today. As a freshman, I was certain I was going to medical school to become a doctor. I would not have guessed that getting a job at the vet school would convince me to make the switch and pursue veterinary medicine. At the beginning of this semester, I officially considered myself a pre-vet student. I am so happy to be past the stress of final exams for this semester, but because I changed career tracks later in my college career, my winter break will be a very busy one!

I have worked at UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine for the last year and a half. I am part of a gene therapy research project for Glycogen Storage Disease Type1a in dogs. This inherited disease results from a mutation in the enzyme needed to break down glycogen into glucose… without getting too much into the scientific background, my job is to give seven dogs with GSD strict timed feedings, as well as, oral dextrose. These dogs have to be given feedings and monitored around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I picked up a lot of hours over the break. So, I will be spending lots of quality time with my favorite pups!

I also will be volunteering at a local veterinary clinic, as well as, a local horse farm. I will have quite a full schedule over the break. However, it is more than okay with me because I will be doing things I really love! Speaking of love…

I will be getting married to my fiancé, Jason, on March 1^st, 2013. I can’t even begin to tell you how EXCITED I am for this day!! We got engaged over the summer and have been wedding planning ever since between exams, work, classes, etc. Everything is finally starting to fall into place… I have my wedding dress, as well as the venue, caterer, and photographer booked. Over the break we have a tasting scheduled with the caterer to make sure our food will be delicious! We also will be taking our engagement photos (kind of late in the game… but better late than never!) in my hometown of Satellite Beach, Florida.

Jason and I will be spending Christmas in North Carolina with my parents, as well as my sister and her husband. My parents will be bringing their three little Chihuahuas and my sister will bring her two Chihuahuas. Jason and I will be adding in some variety with our Miniature Dachshund, Wallace, and a Maltese/Beagle mix named Frost (who we adopted from my job at the vet school!). Needless to say, my Christmas will be brimming with puppies. Who can ask for anything more? J

I am excited to see what my last semester in CALS has in store for me, as well as, my remaining time serving as an ambassador. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to share my experiences with prospective and current students and help them along the way. The most important thing that I’ve learned from my experiences is that it is never to late to follow your passion because once you find what truly drives you, you will be happier than you ever thought possible.

I wish you all a very Happy Holidays, as well as a Happy New Year! And as always…

GO GATORS!

Libby Weber

Libby Weber
Class: Senior
Hometown: Satellite Beach, FL
Major: Food Science and Human Nutrition
Specialization: Nutritional Sciences
Involvement: Performs undergraduate research in the Ophthalmology lab, member of the Alpha Zeta Honors Fraternity, and staff for the Glycogen Storage Disease Puppy Project
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, cooking, and traveling
After College: Plans to attend veterinary school

Dec. 2-8, 2012

A brief glimpse into the mind of Bernie Green…during final’s week….

The optimal output for a perfectly competitive firm is where marginal revenue meets short-run marginal cost. There are two types of coffee bean produced in Uganda, Arabica and Robusta. Nonprofit organizations need at least three board members to be recognized by the IRS. Triohalomethanes are a byproduct of disinfecting water with chlorine; this started in the early 1900’s to reduce the level of typhoid. But triohalomethanes are bad for you! If I get an active carbon filter, I can filter them out. I need to invest in one of those. I think I can order one online, or maybe I can get one at Publix? I need to go to Publix. Wait, Trader Joe’s opens up in a week. It’s Kayla’s birthday next week, too. Will she want to go to Trader Joe’s with me? I doubt it. She’ll want to go to midtown – everybody goes to midtown for their birthday. Wait, I have a final in 12 hours. Where was I? Perfectly competitive firms? Or was it Uganda? AHHH!!!!! THAT’S IT!! I’M CALLING IT:

SKATE BREAK!!!!

That’s right ladies and gentlemen. Your eyes do not deceive you. I said skate break!

Sometimes when I’m overwhelmed with four final exams, my part-time job at the Olive Garden, my friends’ birthdays, planning weekly club meetings so we can start off next semester strong, and writing blogs for my other clubs (haha), I need to step away from reality and have a good old fashion skate break. I put on my headphones and go for a late night, 1-2 hour cruise around Gainesville. It is one of my favorite ways to destress. It gives me time to think about all the stuff that has nothing to do with my exams and get it out of my system.

I like to say I’m taking the scenic route during my extended 6-year run in college. I’ve learned how to not only balance my time accordingly, but also how to leave time available during my busy weeks to destress. I have found this to be an extremely important life lesson. In my early years of college, I was the type of student who would stay up all through the night before an exam with redbulls and 5-hour energys, because I wanted to make sure I knew every last detail about my economics or accounting exam. Since then, I have learned that is one of least effective ways for someone to study. It’s better for one to start studying two weeks before an exam. It doesn’t have to be an in depth analysis of what is going to be on the exam; just read over your notes after class every day. When I started doing this my grades improved, I felt better about myself and I didn’t look like a zombie during finals week.

Now I’m able to have a 2-hour skate break the night before an exam, just to relax. Or, I can work my normal amount of hours at work so I don’t have to deal with the rent headache that comes the week after finals week. The moral of my rant is that it’s important to leave time for oneself during the hectic weeks. In life, the hectic weeks will never stop coming, so you have to learn to work with them to make life easier. Sometimes this means you won’t be able to go out for your friends’ birthday party, but they will still be your friend the next day. And I’m sure they’ll be happy to tell you every detail after you Ace that final you had the following morning.

I hope my two cents is insightful to those whom fear the idea of finals week. It can undoubtedly be an overwhelming time, but with proper planning and preparation, it can be as smooth as skating down a hill.

Bernie Green
Class: Senior
Hometown: Naples, Fl
Major: Food and Resource Economics
Specialization: International Food and Resource Economics
Minor: International Development and Humanitarian Assistance
Involvement: Ag. Econ Club Vice President of Member Relations
Hobbies: Cooking, Reading, Multi-instrumentalist; Member of "Project Chili" a Red Hot Chili Pepper tribute band
Post-Graduation: I hope to enter graduate school, obtaining a Master's Degree in International Development Economics, and then I hope to see the world! 

Nov. 25- Dec. 1, 2012

Hello everyone!  My name is Austin Skipper, and I’m currently a junior in the Food and Resource Economics Department.  Being originally from Archer, right outside of Gainesville, I have grown up around the University of Florida.  I always had aspirations of attending, and was able to attend as a freshman right out of high school.  Once accepted, I put in a lot of thought into what major and clubs I wanted to be in on campus.  I also realized I would need a part time job to help put myself through college, but had not considered working on campus.  However, I soon came across the opportunity to work on campus, and have realized how valuable opportunities like this can be.

I started working at the UF Meats Lab, in the Animal Sciences Department.  Now, it has been about two years since I began working there, and can honestly say, I have not regretted one minute of it.  Not only have my bosses been extremely flexible with my schedule, but I have been able to network with professors in the department and the college through working there.

At my job, I have learned a trade.  I now know how to cut meat as good as the butchers in Publix, but I can also actually slaughter animals. I am familiar with the USDA inspection regulations throughout the entire process.  Jobs like mine have prepared me for a trade, obviously I have higher aspirations post college, but this does provide me with a temporary fall back option upon graduation.  I realize not everybody wants to be a butcher or meat cutter, but it is a viable career.  It is unlike many other jobs across campus, but it shares some of the benefits other campus jobs have.

I have found that campus jobs are flexible across the board.  All of my friends who work on campus all are extremely happy with the scheduling.  Campus jobs schedule your work around your class schedule, and are always accepting of it.  Bosses on campus realize that you are student employees, and that studies are more important to you.

Now of course, I was able to get in a job in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, but there are jobs in all of the colleges and departments in the college.  Sudents can find postings of jobs on jobs.ufl.edu, or bulletin boards in halls.  As we approach the end of the semester, students are getting ready to graduate and vacate their jobs, leaving more open for the rest of us.

One very important accommodation for students who apply, is Federal Work Study.  These types of jobs are everywhere on campus, and reserved for students who qualify for Federal Work Study.  This is where the government pays part of your wages, if not all, in order to better present students who need help with opportunities that will allow them to reach their needs.  Also, departments really enjoy these types of jobs because it is cheaper for them, and they get the same amount of labor.

A big employer of students on campus is Recreational Sports.  This department hires students who work in the gyms on campus or to umpire intramural sports.  Scheduling for these types of things are great because the referees and umpires just work on nights when there are games, probably at most three nights a week.  So your days are free, and it’s a low stress job, unless you make too many bad calls!  But it also an opportunity for students interested in sports to take their passion to the next level.  And if sports are not your thing, there are also office jobs everywhere or jobs available in the game room at the Reitz Union. 

So all in all, there are a lot of opportunities on campus, not just in clubs or majors, but tons of part time jobs are available to students on campus.  So check jobs.ufl.edu for jobs opening at the beginning of next semester, as many students are graduating.  Also, we only have a few more weeks until the holidays, but let’s finish strong Gators!

With that, I’m out Gator Nation!  Happy Holidays!

Austin Skipper

“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” Helen Keller

Austin Skipper

Class: Junior

Hometown: Archer, FL

Major: Food and Resource Economics

Specialization:  Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management

Involvement: Fountain Wars, Filipino Student Association

Hobbies: Hunting, Reading, and anything outdoors

After College: Attend Graduate School

Nov. 18-24, 2012

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" is a phrase that I enjoy hearing every year and believe to be true! This grand holiday season begins with Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on all of the things we are thankful for. I can tell you that I have many things to be thankful for. My name is Lauren Mayo and I am proudly serving as a College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) ambassador for the second year. I am currently a Senior Animal Sciences Major specializing in Dairy Industry and have a minor in Agricultural Communications. With that being said, I have had many opportunities while here at the University of Florida, especially within CALS. There is always something to get involved with, people to meet, places to travel, communities to serve, and so much more as a student of CALS. When I started as a freshman at UF four years ago, I had no idea that I would be the president of two clubs within CALS, travel to so many places, and have so many opportunities resulting from opportunities while here as a student. As I prepare to apply to graduate programs in Dairy Science, this Thanksgiving I have constantly reflected on all of the things that I have been able to accomplish and be a part of. 

When I look back even on this past year alone, there are long lasting memories that I have shared countless laughs and memories with friends not only from UF but from land grant universities all across the United States and even other countries. Throughout my undergraduate career in CALS I have traveled to a plethora of leadership and academic conferences and competitions and met so many other students. I still remember my first American Dairy Science Association meeting when a friend of mine from LSU began talking about palpating dairy cows like it was nothing to be ashamed about. The light bulb clicked on! It was and still is the best feeling in the world to speak with people your same age about something you're passionate about. Normally, when I talk about cows in general most people would stare at me as if I had three heads! I can't even imagine if I had even attended (much less stepped foot on the campus of) that other Florida university who shall remain nameless and will probably lose in this weekend's football game, and I tried finding someone as easily that was interested in dairy cattle as much as I was! There are countless friendships and acquaintances that I have made just by being a student in CALS. 

Service is also something that we try to do more of during the holidays. I grew up in a large scouting family where community service or any form of service to others was a normal thing. I enjoy that while in CALS service is once again a normalcy. One of the greatest opportunities I've had as a CALS ambassador is selling coffee for Alltech's Haiti Project and then taking a service trip to HAITI! Alltech (an animal health company) approached CALS at UF and Auburn’s College of Agriculture with a challenge to sell Haitian coffee that would completely benefit their Haiti project of improving the Agricultural situations of their country. It was hands down the most amazing and life changing opportunity that I have ever had while being a student in CALS! While down there we not only learned a lot about the culture but taught children english, painted an entire school, visited multiple schools, planted coffee for the Haiti Project, hiked up a mountain to La Citadelle, and helped build chicken houses. We hope to continue helping Haiti as much as we can and to return in the near future. 

YOU can help too! CALS Ambassadors will be collecting gently used children books by December 5th for anyone interested in getting involved to our service to the children in Haiti. Books can be dropped off to Charlotte Emerson in the Dean's Office McCarty D 2002!

I could go on and on about all of the things that I am thankful for and the opportunities I've had in CALS, because they're countless and priceless. If you ever have a question or run into me on campus feel free to say hi! I love getting to meet fellow gators! I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving from my CALS to yours! 

Go Gators!

Lauren Mayo

Lauren Mayo

Class: Junior
Hometown: Riverview, Florida
Major: Animal Sciences Specializing in Dairy Industry
Minor: Agricultural Communications
Involvement: Dairy Science Club President; Collegiate Farm Bureau President; Block and Bridle Club; American Dairy Science Association Student Affiliate Division Officer at Large(2011); Girl Scouts of the USA Lifetime Member; Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Adult Volunteer;  coordinated UF Ag Facts Friday, educating college students and public about the importance of agriculture
Hobbies: Dairy cattle judging and showing, scrapbooking, cooking and baking, outdoor